Looking Back on the Year: Practicing Gratitude
One of the most effective ways to navigate this busy time is by intentionally incorporating gratitude into our holiday plans. Practicing gratitude helps shift our focus and redirects our energy from anxiety or loneliness. As Aesop wisely said, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." Gratitude has the transformative power to change our mindset, helping us to recognize and appreciate the blessings in our lives, fostering contentment and peace.
What a beautiful way to reflect on the year — by embracing gratitude and celebrating the small and big blessings that have shaped our journey.
So, how can we practically apply gratitude in our daily lives?
Learning to Cope: How Dialectical Therapy Can Help
Life is filled with challenges—big and small—that can stir up complicated emotions and strain relationships. If you’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, or mood or personality disorders, these challenges can feel even more overwhelming. In these moments, our instinct may be to either fight the battles raging in our minds or, worse, to surrender to the weight of distressing emotions.
But what if there’s a different way to approach these tough emotions? It’s natural to want to fight off discomfort, avoid difficult situations, and seek comfort. But what if we could learn to accept these challenges and embrace the present moment for what it truly is?
Enter Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).